GETTING MARRIED IN GEORGIA

 

When getting married in Georgia the following documents are to be provided.

(Both parties need to be over 18 years).

 

From the British Citizen:       a) Passport, a copy of the data page of which should be translated into Georgian and notarised, including a copy of the page(s) showing Georgian entry-exit stamps;

b) Certificate of no impediment, issued in Georgian language by the British Consulate; or, as an alternative, a Certificate of no impediment issued by the British authorities (which should be legalised by the Legalisation Office at the Foreign Office, then translated and verified by the Georgian Embassy in London).

 

From the Georgian Citizen: a) Passport/ID (a copy should be notarised);

b) Divorce certificate (if any);

c) Birth certificate (a copy should be notarised);

d) Evidence of residence in Georgia.

 

Marriage is legal in Georgia if it was registered with the Registry office either in the local district or in one of the wedding palaces.  Marriage in the Church is ceremonial and not legally binding.  One-month notice is no longer required, according to a new legislation. A couple can register their marriage within 2-5 working days from the date of lodging a notice of intended marriage.

 

As the marriage between a Georgian and a British national is considered to be international, the relevant clearance should be obtained from the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, prior to making a notice within the registrar. The registration fee is 120 Gel (payment should be done through the bank and a receipt should be given to the Ministry).

Another payment of 9 laris is required for the marriage certificate and the service at the registry office. If a couple wishes to have a special ceremony while registering their marriage, the additional fee and details should be agreed with the registry.

 

Georgian women can have double-barrelled names after getting married. Changing the surname is not obligatory and up to the women to decide.

 

Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI) issued in the UK

 

A CNI can be issued by your district registrar in the UK. A notice of marriage will have to be displayed for 21 clear days before the registrar will issue a CNI. Please contact your local registry office for more details.

Once issued, the CNI should be legalised (apostiled) at the Legalisation Office of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The address is:

 

Old Admiralty Building

Whitehall London SW1A 2LG:

Tel: 020 7008 1111

Fax: 020 7008 1010

 

If you have been married before, then your divorce certificate (Decree Absolute) or death certificate of a former spouse should also be legalised by the Legalisation Office in the UK.

The CNI (and Decree Absolute or death certificate if applicable) should then be translated into Georgian. Translation can be done at Consular Section of the Embassy of Georgia to London, as well as the translation. The address is:

 

4 Russell Gardens

London W14 8EZ

Tel: 020 7603 7799

Fax: 020 7603 6682

 

A CNI issued in the UK is considered to be valid by the Georgian officials for six months from the date of issue. 

 

Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage issued in Georgia

 

A CNI can only be issued by a Consular Officer of the British Embassy in Tbilisi after a Notice of Marriage has been displayed on the Consular Section’s notice board for a period of 15 clear days.    

 

Notice of Marriage

 

To complete a Notice of Marriage it is necessary to have been resident in Tbilisi consular district for at least 21 clear days. You will need to make an appointment with a Consular Officer to swear an affidavit and sign the notice. A CNI issued in Tbilisi is considered to be valid by the Georgian officials for six months from the date of issue.

Notofmar

 

Documents required for the issue of a CNI to Marriage in Georgia

 

If you wish to have the CNI issued at the British Embassy in Tbilisi you would need to submit the following documents (all originals):

The CNI is usually issued in Georgian and English languages. After the Certificate of No Impediment is issued, it is necessary to have the signature of the consular officer attested at the Legalisation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. Please note that you must visit the Legalisation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in person in order to legalise the Certificate of No Impediment. This normally takes 3 working days.

After this the Ministry of Justice will issue the relevant clearance for the marriage to take place. This should normally take 5 working days.

 

The information on this website on Marrying in Georgia is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the FCO by the relevant local authorities. The information on this website is therefore only up to date and accurate to the extent that such authorities provide us with timely and accurate information. Accordingly the FCO does not guarantee that this information is accurate and will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. British nationals wishing to obtain information about Marriage in Georgia must also contact the relevant local authority to be sure of the requirements that they need in order for their ceremony to go ahead.